Michel Platini to double up in Euro shake-up

Michel Platini wants to change the format of elite european competition

There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will take between 2015 and 2018. We will make a decision in 2014. There is nothing decided yet

UEFA president Michel Platini

European football’s governing body are discussing proposals to make the Champions League a 64-club competition from 2015.

That could mean a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League being enough to reach Europe’s top club competition.

The plan is just one of several under consideration, with another being to offer a Champions League place to the winners, and possibly runners-up in the Europa League.

UEFA president Platini said: “There is an ongoing debate to determine what form the European competitions will take between 2015 and 2018. We will make a decision in 2014. There is nothing decided yet.”

Platini also blasted FIFA president Sepp Blatter for dismissing the idea of extra officials behind the goal-line as too expensive.

UEFA are to continue with the use of five officials in European matches, but Platini insists the cost is minimal compared to the expense of introducing goal-line technology.

He said: “I’ll give you some numbers. Mr Blatter said that five officials is expensive.

“In our UEFA competitions, if you want to put in goal-line technology it costs us l32m (£25m) in the first year and l54m (£43m) over five years. Referees, it costs us l2.3m (£1.8m).”